Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-15
MYSTIC ORDER.
SECOND DAYS SESSION OF THE
SOVEREIGN GRAND LODGE.
Election OF Oficers-Mutual Aid So
ciety-Grand Masters Address
Reports of Committees, Etc.

CleCy-0ranu masters Address
Reports of Committees, Etc.
The second Gays session of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge, +. and A. NJ. (colored), as
sembled at Armory Hall at o'clock yes
terday morning. The forenoon session
was occugied almost entirely in listening
to reports from officers of the Mutual Aid
Society of the Order. The reports showed
the Society to be in good condition finan-
cially and prosperous. There are now As
members.
At the afternoon session, which COM
Eaenced at 2 o'clock, the Grand Lodge pro-
ceeded to the election of officers for the en-
suing year, and resulting as follows
Abram f. Holbrook, of Oakland, Grand
Master: Thomas Smith, of Marysville,
Deputy Grand Master; Isaac Dunlap, of
Sacramento Grand Senior Warden; Peter
Jackson, of Chico, Grand Junior Warden ;
Thomas e. Randolph of Marysville, Grand
Treasurer; Roderingo Wilkinson, of Oak
land, reelected Grand Secretary for the
| fourth time. The appointive officers will
| be announced this morning
| At the session last evening various COM
mittees made their reports. Among these
| was the Committee upon the Grand Mas
| ter's Annual Address. which was reported
back by the committee as follows
THE GRAND MASTERS ADDRESS.
| Brethren ollie Most Worshipfttl Sovereign Grand
Lodge, +. and 4. NJ, Of the State of California;
| greet you who are present, and we should con-
| graduate ourselves and each other that our Su-
| preme Grand Master has permitted US again to
assemble in such numbers on this the thir-
teenth annual Communication, in the exalted
| relations as members of the Grand Lodge. to
consult together in most intimate fraternal con-
| fidence, fully impressed with the importance of
| directing our labOrs to the relief of the dis
tresSed and the achievement of good for our
| feIlowmen.
Since the last annual convocation of this
Grand Lodge ii has been assailed by a turbulent
and rebellious mob of men, who termed them
selves brethren of this time-honored institution;
men, from their actions, which will lay before
| you further on, you may say ought to be driven
out of any society, especially this. our beloved
| Order. We have to congratulate ourselves to
| the Grand Architect of the Universe that no
| seat has been made vacant by death Nav orr
hearts swell with gratitude to the Author of all
| Good that the mystic tie has not been broken
nor the eye dimmed with tears of grief
| Science and art have kept pace with the pro-
gressiye ideas of civilization, and civil and rei-
| gious reforms have been inaugurated through
1.-THE land. The earth has brought forth an
| abundance for the susienance of animal life
| his toll. Masonry is very comprehensive en-
| bracing knowledge of natural laws science
and ant. These themes commend themselves to
our notice and furnish instructive lessons.
But, alas the year has fed with fruits of
much labor scattered oser the land, and another
milestone has been passed in the journey of life
and blend the melody of the present with the
| hopeful future. My brethren. during our DELHI
| erations may we not forget the many blessings
We enjoy, but labor with more earnestness that
no SrfO toll
much TO do and no time to delay, and as sure as
the day follows the night, or the harvest the
seed time, so will new light, peace and prosper
ity follow the labors of the faithful brother Ma
son. In all we do, may morality be the beacon
| light-the heraldry of SUGGESTIVE cherished
sentiment of every Masonic heart. In moral
| excellence alone we find our true bastion which
| defes the assaults of the vulgar and profane
! and, secure in its stronghold, we may raise our
| banner and proudly float it in the breeze while
| it bears upon its folds the motto" Onward
The reputation of an individual becomes the
public reputation of the society to which he be-
| longs. The public does not make a distinction
between the dishonesty of the man and the OBJ
| legations and principles of the society he has
disgraced. Political parties, religious sects and
secret organizations are alike condemned as a
| whole for the errors of any of their members
Every one is attracted by his peculiar pleasures
| and whoever makes himself wolf endangers
the safety OF the sheep the erring brother brings
sorrow upon his household, and robs the limo
| cent of that which not himself enriehes
| Hence reprimand and punishment are need
full to the rules of society for its interests and
safety. and we should enforce conformity to
all laws and ediets OF Masonry, and not allow
our sympathy for the erring to override our
| judgment and keep us from the performance of
| our duty Duty with us is always and impera-
| tive 10 forgive seventy times seven, reads and
| sounds very well as preeept. but when such
forgiveness affects our vital interests the pre-
cept viii be found very poor one to practice
| Mason should be the last to violate the laws
ana the 1irst 10 encourage respect for our
| Courts and see that the criminal is Justly pun
| lshed. Wholesome laws, neglected to be en-
| forced or injudiciously administered, fail to
| secure the objects for which they were enacted
| and encourage the crimes they were intended TO
| correct.
Law does not overcome the evil natures of
men, which makes statutory enactrnentS neces-
sary, but rather looks from her high moral
| throne with an impartial and comprehensive
| eye upon the errors of the human mind, the
wrong and passionate judgment of men, and
proclaims system of restraints and punish
ments for the offenses of the unfortunate, which
Will afford security of life and property to the
| innocent. The theory OF Masonic iurisprIl-
| dence its assumption OF justice and equality
and its penal codes are based upon ethics and
| appeal 70 the higher Judgment and better pas.
sions of men, and contemplate the infiction of
| disgrace upon the offender The inference,
| then is that all Masons are equal who follow the
| precepts OF the Order. and that the unworthy
| are punished with dishcnor for their offenses
| If tins were rot the case, then there would be
no necessity for requiring the applicant to be of
| good report and well recommended hence the
inference is clear that no one ROT of good report
! should be allowed to remain with, or have any
hold upon. Masonry whatever. and the only
way to deal with those who lay themselves
liable to criminal prosecution in our cunts is to
expel them, and lid ourselves OF the stains OF
| their disgrace, for the brother who voluntarily
violates his oath and wrongs another is guilty OF
| grave otfense and should be punished With
| the seVerest penalty known to Masonic law-ex-
| pulsion from the Order.
Masonic obligations, like the Penal Code. do
not make exemplary and worthy citizens of the
immoral ana vicious neither do they require
| us to shield the guilty nor assist the incident.
| AS the bees despise the drone and drive il from
| the Five so does Masonry despise the human
drone, who wears the jewels and feeds upon the
| fruits of the labor of an honest, industrious
| brother, and it is the duty of every Mason care
| fully to guard the altar and every avenue that
leads to the temple against the approach of the
There should be more zeal and earnest labor
! among the brethren to spread the standard of
Masonry. and improve the condition of man.
Duty and fedlty are imperative and as immuta-
bic as time, and our Obligations are solemn and
| binding No man can have q proper regard for
truth and selt-respeet who will disregard his
coiigs ton or construe an oath, by mental reeer-
| walton. into meaningless and idle WORDS with
out debasing himself before the world as un-
| worthy the confidence and esteem of all honor
| able men, Is Masonry a seminary of wrong
and folly, where moral excellence and 6ignitY
are the vanquished competitors of friyoiitv and
| vice? Do no higher aspirations mark the man
| i'll his social relations and is there no prntec
| human life, and is he the moral trestle- board
| full of deceptive plans and ignoble designs
wholly wanting in that completeness which
enables the workman to labor with profit to
himself and the good of his fellow man :?
Nay, not in spirit, but too often in prae
tlce, | am sorry TO say. this picture bears the
semblsnee of truth. To correct such errors
and diseountenance vice in all its forms and
elevate the moral standard by which a Ian is
10 be judged and held worthy of esteem. is a
part OF the work we are called upon TO perform
and which alone will eEtitle us to the respect
and confidence of all the world. In the esteem
OF others we have power ABOVE individual
ideas, which is neeced for the best interests of
Masonry, and this can only be secured in ltlr
favor by dignified example integrity of nl1rrose
ana honesty IN the performance OF every duty
Inc time mas come when We must take more
hFIn and decided stand, and war against vice
aud CRIME OF every form, or we shall find the
Ancient Ediiice, so long the pride of those whose
names we rev. re. crumbling into mass of mis-
saaqen ruins, with the strength of the material
e1haGsied, and def5rmity and corruption stand
lug IN the place where Just &c held the sceDter
Z "a virtue reigned We are in the presence ofa
grand conyu.siye effort of the forces of the hu-
m IN intellect Tor some great moral, civil and
p1iticai reform, are undergoing severe test
ana what the final verdict viii be is known 10
the 5rand Arehlt-ct alone, who doeth all things
Wen we must cultivate a spirit of forbear-
aueei adInonisn those in error, be firm in JUS
tlee, always holding the interest of the insfitu-
ton aot We tnat OF the individual, be fearless in
action, charitable ID the poor and true to the
best interest of humanity; and success will
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